Locomotive wireless video recorder and recording system

ABSTRACT

An imaging system ( 5 ) for generating landmark correlated images taken from a railroad locomotive includes a camera ( 142 ) mounted on the locomotive ( 22 ) for imaging an environment in a vicinity of the locomotive and transmitting imaging data indicative of images acquired. The system also includes a location sensor ( 20 ) on-board the locomotive generating signals indicative of a geographic location of the locomotive constituting location data. The system also includes a railroad landmark database ( 68 ) comprising a plurality of railroad landmarks ( 76 ) associated with respective geographic locations constituting landmark tags. The system also includes a processor (e.g.,  10 ) receiving the imaging data and location data and communicating with the railroad landmark database to correlate the landmark tags with the imaging data and the location data for generating landmark correlated image data. The system may also include a computer system ( 86 ) for accessing the landmark correlated image data by landmark location.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of and claims the benefit ofthe Feb. 10, 2003 filing date of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/361,968, which in turn claims the benefit of the Jun. 4, 2002 filingdate of U.S. provisional application No. 60/385,645.

This application also claims benefit of the Nov. 10, 2004 filing date ofU.S. provisional patent application No. 60/626,573.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to integrated diagnostic, telemetry and recordingsystems for use in a locomotive. Event recorders exist for use withlocomotives. Such event recorders receive data corresponding to numerousparameters such as speed, acceleration, etc., from the locomotivecontrol system over a communications channel (e.g., RS 422 interface).Upon the occurrence of an event the event recorder stores locomotivedata in a memory module. An exemplary locomotive event recorder isproduced by Electrodynamics, Inc.

Locomotive audio/video recording systems are also known in the art. Anexemplary locomotive audio/video recording system is the RailView™system available from Transportation Technology Group. In suchaudio/video recording systems, video data and optionally audio data arestored to a high capacity, memory device such as a floppy disk drive,hard disk drive or magnetic tape.

Another locomotive video system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,978,718for use in rail traffic control. For trains traveling on a routeequipped with a wayside signaling system, the operating authority guideseach train via wayside signal devices dispersed at various intervalsthroughout the length of the railway route. Though trains can be guidedsafely along unsignaled routes, wayside signaling systems arepreferable, especially on heavily trafficked routes, as they can be usedto guide trains even more safely and more quickly along such signaledroutes with less distance between them. In the video system of the '718patent, a rail vision system is employed to visually read signal aspectinformation from each wayside signal device of a wayside signalingsystem. The system can be configured to warn a train operator of themore restrictive signal aspects and impose brake application should thetrain operator fail to acknowledge the warning. The rail vision systemincludes a signal locating system and a rail navigation system. The railnavigation system determines the position that the train occupies on therailway track and provides the signal locating system with data as tothe whereabouts of the upcoming wayside signal device relative to theposition of the train. The signal locating system locate upcomingwayside signal devices and reads the information therefrom as the trainapproaches. The signal locating system provides the information readtherefrom to the rail navigation system. The rail navigation system canthen warn the train operator of restrictive signal aspects, and, shouldthe train operator fail to acknowledge the warning, impose a brakeapplication.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary locomotive video recorder andrecording system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting an exemplary on board system with anintegrated diagnostic, telemetry and recording system;

FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary data flow diagram of an exemplary locomotivevideo recorder and recording system;

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary data flow diagram of another embodiment ofan exemplary locomotive video recorder and recording system.

FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the locomotive video recorderand recording system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary computer system for selecting and retrievingimage data.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

Disclosed herein is a locomotive video recorder and recording systemcomprising a combination of video technologies, wireless informationsystems, and locomotive transportation systems which enable configurableevent based, image and parameter data recording, remote monitoring, anddiagnostic services that aid in resolving various railroadtransportation issues. The inventors of the present invention haveinnovatively discovered that by logging recorded information with one ormore data tags, such as tags indicative of chronological time, operatingconditions, and/or locations, improved data functionality may beachieved.

Referring to FIG. 1, the locomotive video recorder and recording systemshown generally as 5 comprises an on-board group of systems 200 and“off-board” systems 300. An event recorder functionality includesrecording and transmitting relevant video, geographic data, andlocomotive operating parameters to assist in resolving issues related toRR crossing accidents, train derailments, collisions, and waysideequipment inspection and maintenance. In addition, this video recorderand recording system 5 can be used to perform remote monitoring anddiagnostics of track conditions, wayside equipment, and operator trainmanagement.

The data collection, processing, and wireless transmission provided bythe locomotive wireless video recorder and recording system 5, enable auser to quickly respond to issues that occur in and around the manylocomotives moving throughout a railroad network. Event datatransmission may be configured to occur based on various locomotiveconditions, geographic locations, and situations. In addition, eventdata may be either pulled (requested) or pushed (transmitted) from thelocomotive. For example, data can be sent from a locomotive to anoff-board data and monitoring center 310 based on selected operatingconditions (e.g., emergency brake application), geographic location(e.g., in the vicinity of a railroad crossing), selected or derivedoperating areas of concern (e.g., high wheel slip or locomotive speedexceeding area limits), or time driven messages (e.g., sent once a day).An off-board central monitoring and data center 310 may also request andretrieve the data from specific locomotives on demand.

Wireless communication connectivity also enables the off-board data andmonitoring center 310 to provide additional functions including remotemonitoring and diagnostics of the system and remote configurationmanagement of the mobile on-board systems 200.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting an exemplary on board system 200with integrated diagnostic, telemetry, and video recording system 5hereinafter denoted system 5. The system 5 includes a management unit orprocessor, hereinafter denoted management unit 10, which providescommand and control of various interfaces and processes as may beaccomplished. In addition, the management unit 10 may further includediagnostics and event recording capabilities. Event recording, forexample, determines selected parameters to observe, evaluate, and ifdesired save or record.

The management unit 10 may include, without limitation, a computer orprocessor, logic, memory, storage, registers, timing, interrupts, andthe input/output signal interfaces as required to perform the processingprescribed herein. The management unit 10 receives inputs from varioussensors and systems and generates output signals thereto. FIG. 3 depictsthe top-level block diagram of the processing functions and data flow ofthe integrated diagnostic, telemetry and recording system 5. It will beappreciated that while in an exemplary embodiment most processing isdescribed as resident in the management unit 10, such a configuration isillustrative only. Various processing and functionality may bedistributed among one or more system elements without deviating from thescope and breadth of the claims.

In an exemplary embodiment, the management unit 10 performs orfacilitates the following processes:

-   -   Collection of data from various inputs (video, GPS, locomotive        data);    -   Processing of data;    -   Recordation and Storage of data;    -   Logical computations to determine appropriate system actions        (send data, file management, video controls);    -   Control of video equipment (on/off, time and location        activation, image quality settings, etc);    -   Association of audio/video data with parameter and event data;    -   Interfaces with the wireless network;    -   Processes commands from the off-board data and monitoring        center; and    -   System diagnostics and health status.        The event recording capability of the management unit 10        receives locomotive data from the locomotive system 18        including, but not limited to acceleration, speed, direction,        braking conditions, wheel slip and the like. The management unit        10 and/or a data storage 12 may continually direct and        facilitate the storage of various locomotive data in the data        storage 12 on a first-in, first-out basis. This allows the        system to capture locomotive data leading up to an event.        Alternatively, the management unit 10 may initiate storing        locomotive data in the data storage 12 upon detection of an        event or via operator control on-board the locomotive or from a        off-board data and monitoring center 310. Detection of an event        is performed using known techniques (e.g., vehicle sensors, such        as accelerometers, speed sensors, locomotive operational        sensors, and the like).

The management unit 10 in performing the abovementioned processes mayutilize various signals along with and in comparison to a database ofstored information (described below). The database 32 may be employed tofacilitate correlation of selected data with a selected or specifiedevents. Moreover, the database 32 may be employed to identify a type ofevent or events and a selected set of images, operational parameter, orenvironmental parameter data that is preferably associated or relevantto such an event. The database 32 may be utilized for example, todetermine not only the position that the train occupies on the railwaytrack but also the location relative to the position of the train of anupcoming target of interest or desired input for event and videorecording. For example, a wayside signal device, crossing, bridge, curvein the track, and the like. This information may be used to determinegating of sensors, or the cameras 142 of the audio/video system 14. forexample, in an exemplary embodiment, the management unit 10 determineswhere the train is located in relation to the track route location datastored in the abovementioned onboard database 32. Through suchprocessing, the geographical coordinates of the train may be comparedwith the abovementioned database information to determine not only onwhich track the train is traveling but also the particular segment andposition that the train occupies on that track.

When the management unit 10 has determined or established the expectedlocation and position of a desired input, e.g., upcoming crossing,wayside signaling device, and the like, the management unit 10 mayoptionally direct the audio video system 14 and the sensing means 142,e.g., camera or particular camera to focus on the upcoming desiredinput, for example, an up coming wayside signal device. Additionally,the management unit 10 may direct recordation of selected parametersrelated to the operation of the locomotive or environmental parametersand data. These data may then readily be associated with selected videodata to provide detailed insight into the operation of the locomotiveand past events.

In another exemplary embodiment, the management unit 10 may be employedto facilitate operation of an on-board system diagnostics and healthmonitoring for the system 5, or components thereof. For example, in anexemplary embodiment, the management unit 10, data storage 12 and acommunication system 50 may be employed to detect, store, and transmitto the off-board central data center 310 relevant operating systemparameters and information such as diagnostics and/or failure of themanagement unit 10, data storage or other components of the system 5.The diagnostics may further identify component status, and failure orinoperability including, but not limited to, loss of power loss oroperation of the audio/video system 14 and components thereof, loss ofimaging data, time, and location of failures.

The on-board systems 200 may also include data storage 12. The datastorage 12 is configured to exhibit sufficient capacity to capture andrecord data to facilitate performance of the functions disclosed herein.The data storage 12 provides of suitable storage capacity, such as 2gigabytes of memory in a exemplary embodiment. In one embodiment, thedata storage 12 uses flash memory. Data storage 12 may also includenon-volatile random access memory (RAM). Moreover, as part of the datastorage 12, in one configuration, the management unit 10 may includenon-volatile memory for storage of diagnostic and status data.

As shown in FIG. 2, the data storage 12 includes a housing 13, with thehousing preferably protecting a data storage device 12 againstmechanical and electrical damage during an event (e.g., selectedlocations, operating conditions, or an accident involving thelocomotive) to preserve data held in data storage device 12. The datastorage device 12 is preferably a solid-state, non-volatile memory ofsufficient storage capacity to provide long-term data storage of thelocomotive data, environmental data, video data and audio data for asignificant period of time (e.g., 15 minutes) associated with a selectedevent. Once again, it will be appreciated that while the data storagedevice 12 are described herein as separate entities from the managementunit 10 either or both could be configured to be separate or combined,as well as being combined with other elements of the system 5 disclosedherein. Additionally it should be appreciated the while a particularpartitioning of the processing and functionality is disclosed herein,such partitioning is illustrative only to facilitate disclosure. Manyother arrangements and partitions of like functionality may now readilybe apparent.

The data storage 12 may also utilized to store a database 32 composed ofa variety of information that may be used in conjunction with data andparameters acquired. In particular, the database may be employed tocorrelate acquired data with a selected event or events. For example,the database may be employed in cooperation with a navigation system 20,for example, a Global Positioning System (GPS) to facilitate positiondetermination, localizing, and determination or evaluation for gating ofdata and video recording functions as a function of position, location,time, wayside status, and the like, as well as combinations including atleast one of the foregoing. The database may include data including, butnot limited to: (i) the locations of railway track routes, and trackmapping (ii) the locations and orientations of curves and switches inthose railway track routes, (iii) the location of each wayside device oneach railway track route, (iv) the type of each wayside device (e.g.,crossing gates, switches, signals, background shape, number of lights,possible color combinations), (v) the direction which each waysidedevice points (e.g., eastbound or westbound, etc.) and the particulartrack to which each wayside device relates (e.g., main track or siding),(vi) the position of each wayside device with respect to the particulartrack and the direction which the train is traveling (e.g., to theright, left, overhead), (vii) the distance from each wayside device atwhich imaging of the object should start, and (viii) the operation ofthe wayside device (e.g., lights are operating, horn or bell isoperating, the crossing gate arms are moving etc.). As explained below,the database may also feature data pertaining to (x) the location ofevery highway or other type of crossing on all relevant railway trackroutes and (xi) the distance from each crossing at which imaging shouldstart. This location data is pegged to the identity of each railwayroute typically by reference to milepost distances. Moreover, thedatabase may include various operational and environmental parametersassociated with a various types of events. The database 32 may beemployed to identify a for particular type of event, the environmentaland operational parameter data that would be relevant to a selectedevent.

Coupled to the data storage 12, and optionally to the management unit 10is an audio/video system 14. The audio/video system 14 generates audiodata and video data that is either stored directly in the data storage12 or stored in coordination with operational and environmentalparameter data available in the system 5. In an exemplary embodiment,the audio/video system 14 acquires digital audio and digital videoinformation. However, optionally analog equipment may be employed. Theaudio/video system 14 includes one or more cameras and/or microphonesdirected as desired to obtain desired video and audio information. Theaudio/video system 14 includes a input or sensing means 142 that can forexample, take the form of any one of a variety of known cameras and/ormicrophones including the types of cameras that feature aiming andzooming mechanisms that can be externally controlled to aim the cameraat an upcoming object with high clarity even at relatively longdistances. Further, in an exemplary embodiment, a sensing means 142 withcontrol of lighting effects, resolution, volume control for audio,frequency of imaging, data storage, and information concerningaudio/video system parameters may be utilized. The sensing means 142e.g., camera and/or microphone, is used to generate a video signalindicative of an image of the object, such as an upcoming waysidedevice, crossing, or track conditions onto which it is focused.Additionally, the audio/video system 14 and more particularly thesensing means 142 may further take advantage of video technologies thatfacilitate low/no light image collection or collection of specificimages. For example infrared and detection of specific images, e.g.,flashing red crossing lights.

The audio/video system 14 may also include a processing means 144 thatmay take the form of any one of several types of hardware and softwareembodiments known in the signal processing art for handling andprocessing the captured data. Using any number of well establishedsignal processing techniques, the processing means 144 is to be used toprocess the video signals generated by the sensing means e.g., camera(s)and/or microphones 142 so that the upcoming wayside signal device, thesignal aspect information therefrom, crossing, or track conditions, isrendered discernable. The particular techniques and hardware/softwareimplementation selected for the processing means 144 is well known and afunction of desired capabilities, characteristics, cost, and the like.

The audio/video signal generated by the sensing means 142 e.g., cameraand/or microphone may be processed by the processing means 144 in anattempt to render the upcoming desired input, as well as any informationappearing thereabout, discernable. Further, the processing may include adetermination of characteristics of the upcoming desire input, forexample, particular signal information, crossing status or obstruction,crossing gate status, crossing gate light status, crossing gate audiblewarning, and the like.

The sensing means 142 e.g., camera(s) and/or microphone(s) may bedirected out the front of the locomotive. Additionally, sensing means142 may be directed to either side, or to the rear of the locomotive ormultiple cameras may be used to capture images from multiple areas. Sucha configuration preserves a visual record of the wayside signalinginformation, crossing status, and items on or near the track in theevent of a mishap. Moreover, and in conjunction with the event and datarecording capability of the management unit 10, the video data may becaptured and stored in a universal time-tagged manner with otherlocomotive parameters, such as diagnostics, and locomotive operationalcharacteristics and parameters to facilitate incident investigation andoperator evaluation. Additionally, one or more microphone(s) may beemployed to record audio such as, wayside equipment lights, sound andoperation, locomotive operational sounds, or the application of thelocomotive horn.

The audio/video system 14 may optionally feature a display unit 146 toshow the train operator a wide variety of data intelligence gathered orinformation to facilitate operation or diagnostics of the locomotive.The display unit 146 may feature selected video data and operationalparameters including, but not limited to, wayside signal aspects, speed,power and the like. The display unit 146 may also feature a graphicaldisplay used to provide the train operator with the actual video imagegenerated by the camera(s) 142. It may also be used to displaysupplemental information such as the profile of the upcoming portion ofrailway track, the estimated distance required to brake the train, theterritorial coverage of the railway operating authority or other data,and the like.

The audio/video system 14 may also be used to detect and react toobstructions on the railway track. This configuration would assistoperators of trains that travel along railway routes that intersect withhighways or other types of railway track crossings.

The video data and audio data (if used) may be stored continuously inthe data storage 12 on a first-in, first-out basis employing acontinuous looping approach. Upon occurrence of an event, theaudio/video data is preserved in data storage 12. This enhances theability to determine the cause of an event. The capacity of the datastorage 12 can be increased as required to store additional audio/videodata or locomotive data. Again, this allows the management unit todirect the recording of a predetermined amount of video/audio dataleading up to an event. Alternatively, the audio/video system 14 may beconfigured to initiate imaging/observing, and transmitting video/audiodata to the data storage 12 for recordation upon detection of an event,selected event, or based upon operational and environment parameters andthe like.

By collecting locomotive data, audio/video data, and environmental data,and the like in data storage 12, the integrated diagnostic, telemetryand video recording system 5 facilitates analysis of locomotive events.The addition of environmental and locomotive operating parameter datastored in the same data storage 12 simplifies configuration of thesystem 5, integration, and further enhances the ability to investigatelocomotive events. Moreover, as disclosed herein, linking the storageand event or data recording capabilities as disclosed with a remotelyconfigurable communications system 50 further facilitates data capture,analysis and incident investigation as may be directed by an off-boarddata and monitoring center 310.

Continuing now with FIGS. 1 and 2, the integrated diagnostic, telemetryand video recording system may further include a communications system50 integrated with data storage 12 and optionally the audio/video system14 and management unit 10. In an exemplary embodiment, thecommunications system 50 includes multiple communications systemsemployed as may facilitate a particular communication or environmentincluding, but not limited to wireless satellite communications system,a cellular communications system, radio, private networks, a WirelessLocal Area Network WLAN, and the like, as well as combinations includingat least one of the foregoing. In an exemplary embodiments the wirelesscommunication system may be employed to transmit image data,environmental and operational parameter data corresponding to a selectedevent or events to the off-board data and monitoring center 300.

The wireless communication system 50 may comprise an onboard receiver 52and transmitter 54. The wireless communication system 50 provides ameans to transmit the data between locomotives and from the locomotiveto an off-board processing center 300. Optionally, the wirelesscommunications system may be employed for communication to the system 5for diagnostics, data downloads, uploads and the like. Additionally, thewireless communication system 50 provides a means to receive commandsand requests from the off-board processing center 300. For examplecommands pertaining to transmission protocol, channel, transmissionformat, transmission timer, packet size, frequency, and the like as wellas combinations including at least one of the foregoing. Moreover, datamay also be retrieved from the locomotive mounted management unit 10 viamanual (wired) interfaces and downloads to another computer or evenmanagement unit 10 memory removal.

Continuing once again with FIGS. 1 and 2, the integrated diagnostic,telemetry and video recording system 5 may further include a navigationsystem 20. The navigation system 20 may be employed to determine theposition of the train/locomotive occupies on the globe. In an exemplaryembodiment, the navigational system takes the form of a GlobalPositioning System hereinafter GPS, which can receive signals anddetermine global coordinates, such as latitude and longitude,directional information, velocity and time. The GPS provides geographic,movement, and time data to the management unit 10 to facilitatecorrelation of selected image, operational and environmental parameterdata with a chronological time and/or geographic location. Time tag datamay include, but not be limited to, chronological time, time oftransmission and the like. Geographic data may include, but not belimited to, latitude, longitude, velocities and the like. In anexemplary embodiment, the GPS system includes, but is not limited to alocomotive mounted antenna and receiver/computer that processes signalsfrom low earth orbiting satellites to provide the abovementioned data.

In an exemplary embodiment, the GPS receiver should preferably beaccurate enough to identify a curve or a switch on which the train islocated. Thus, the data that the GPS receiver itself may provide mayonly be an approximation of the exact position of the train. The GPS mayfurther be coupled with other navigational aids to further facilitateaccurate position location and determination. The GPS information mayfurther be coupled with the stored information about the track tofurther facilitate a determination of where the locomotive, (and therebythe train) is on the track relative to fixed waypoints or entities, forexample a wayside signaling device or crossing.

The locomotive system 30 includes, but is not limited to, various sensorand data sources that provide inputs to the data storage 12 and/ormanagement unit 10. One source is the locomotive control system thatprovides data about the operational performance and status of thelocomotive. For example, data on power commands, engine speed,locomotive speed, traction feedback, pneumatic brakes, brake pressures,dynamic braking, load, throttle, operating faults, ambient temperature,commanded parameters and the like. Another data source is the locomotive“trainlines”—these (discrete) signals run between locomotives in a trainand provide operation status of the locomotive. For example, the“trainlines” include data on operator's power/brake command, directioncall, power mode, and the like. Moreover, data can also be collecteddirectly from various locomotive and environmental sensors 40, controlcircuits and devices, e.g., track geometry monitors, smoke and firedetectors, chemical or fuel detectors, engine on relay and emergencybrake relay or other data collection devices, such the data eventrecorder, locomotives horn and bell indication and the like. Otherenvironmental and operational parameters that may be observed andrecorded may include but not be limited to: weather conditions, e.g.,rain, snow, fog, and the like; horn and lights, track conditions, tracktopology, elevation direction and heading.

Returning to FIGS. 1 and 2, the off-board data processing center 300interfaces with the wireless communication system and manages the filesand commands to and from the locomotives. The off-board data processingcenter 300 employs a wireless communications system 320 to interfacewith on-board systems. The wireless communication system 320 may includebut not be limited to a transmitter and receiver for satellitecommunications, radio, cellular, and the like, as well as combinationsincluding at least one of the foregoing. The off-board data processingcenter 300 processes the data into valuable data for the users. Amonitoring and diagnostic service center (MDSC) 310 processes the datacollected by the system and provides the event replay services anddiagnostic recommendations. The MDSC also uses the system to performremote monitoring of the locomotive and surrounding elements such as therail, signaling, and crossing equipment. The MDSC 310 with thecommunications system 320 transmits request to the on board systems 200for selection of desired images, environmental and operational parameterdata. Advantageously, the system may be employed to select specifieddata to be stored and/or transmitted to the off-board MDSC 310 underselected conditions such as when the locomotive approaches or reaches adesired location, wayside signaling device, at a specified time, and thelike. The MDSC 310 may also be employed to remotely modify theconfiguration of the onboard communications system 50 The MDSC alsomonitors the health of the audio/video system 14, locomotive system 30,navigational system 20, and a wireless communications system 50 andperforms required maintenance (e.g., hardware and software versiontracking). Raw data and diagnostic recommendations are exchanged withvarious customers by the MDSC via web pages or business-to-business filetransfers.

The management unit 10, data storage 12, audio/video recording system14, communications system 50 navigation system 20, locomotive controlsystem 18 and environmental sensors 40 may be powered during normaloperation from a locomotive power supply V_(L). The source of locomotivepower supply V_(L) may be a generator driven by the locomotives engine.The management unit 10, data storage 12, audio/video recording system14, communications system 50, and navigation system 20, may optionallyinclude auxiliary power supplies such as batteries 34. During failure ordisruption of the locomotive power supply V_(L), auxiliary powersupplies 34 are utilized to facilitate continued operation.Alternatively, instead of separate auxiliary power supplies for eachcomponent, an auxiliary power supply could supplement locomotive powersupply V_(L) in the event of a failure or disruption locomotive powersupply V_(L) to supply selected components of the system 5. In anexemplary embodiment, the data storage 12 and audio/video recordingsystem 14 may be powered with auxiliary power supplies 34. Optionally,the management unit 10, communications system 50 navigation system 20,locomotive control system 18 and environmental sensors 40 may also bepowered with one or more auxiliary power supplies 34.

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary data flow diagram of another embodiment ofan exemplary locomotive video recorder and recording system 5. Thesystem 5 may include the on-board system 200 comprising the managementunit 10 receiving data from the audio/video system 14, the locomotivesystem 30, and the navigational system 20. The wireless communicationssystem 50 provides two-way communication between the on-board system 200and the off-board data processing center 300. The on-board system 200further includes environmental sensors 70 providing environmental data,such as time of day, weather, and lighting conditions, to the managementunit 10. The management unit 10 integrates data received from therespective data sources, such as the audio/video system 14, locomotivesystem 30, and the environmental sensors 70, and stores the integratedinformation in memory 60. The integrated information may includevideo/audio data, locomotive control data, location data, such as GPSlocation, and time data. Removable memory 62 may redundantly store theinformation stored in the memory 60. The removable memory 62 may beremoved from the onboard system 200 and installed in compatible devices,such as a download player 66, for accessing the contents stored in theremovable memory 62.

In an aspect of the invention, time standard information, for example,received from the navigation system 20 in the form of a time standardencoded in a GPS signal, may be used to synchronize the data received bythe management unit 10 from the data sources. For example, the datareceived from each of the sources may be time stamped with a time tagderived from the GPS time standard. Accordingly, the data may besynchronized to a universal time standard instead of relying onindependent time standards applied by the respective data sources to thedata that they provide to the management unit 10 that may beasynchronous to one another. By providing a universal time standard forreceived data, time discrepancies among data received from the differentsources having independently encoded time standards may be resolved. Inan embodiment, a universal time stamp may be applied to the data by themanagement unit 10, for example, upon receipt of the data from therespective data sources to generate time correlated integratedinformation. In another embodiment, a universal time stamp may beprovided to each of the respective data sources, such as the audio/videosystem 14, locomotive system 30, and the environmental sensors 70. Theuniversal time stamp may be used by the respective data sources to timetag data generated by the source before the data is provided to themanagement unit 10, so that the data received by the management unit 10arrives with a universal time stamp. In yet another embodiment,universal time information may be provided by other time standardsources, such as a locomotive clock provided by a locomotivecommunications module unit or an Inter-Range Instrumentation Group(IRIG) time tag generator, to synchronize the data received by themanagement unit 10.

The on-board system 200 may also include a railroad (RR) landmarkdatabase 68 for supplying railroad landmark tags to the management unit10. The landmark tags may be correlated with the data received from thedata sources corresponding to a geographic location of the locomotive,for example, sensed by the navigation system 10, at the time the data isgenerated. These landmarks tags, such as milepost markers, stations, andcrossing tags, may be included in the integrated video data atappropriate geographic correlated locations of data capture to createlandmark correlated image data to allow a user to intuitively selectlandmark tags for retrieving data from the integrated information. Forexample, instead of using time or geographic location parameters tosearch the integrated video data, a user may select one or more landmarktags, such as a mile post to locate desired data. By using landmarktags, a user may not need to know a specific time or specific geographiclocation to search for desired data. Consequently, the landmark tags maybe used to provide an alternate means of searching through landmarkcorrelated image data recorded by the management unit 10.

In an aspect of the invention, a landmark tag may be retrieved from thedatabase 68 when location data provided by the navigational system 20indicates that the locomotive is at a location corresponding to thelocation of the landmark. The landmark tag may then be inserted into theintegrated video data corresponding to the data gathered for thelocation. In another embodiment, location information from thenavigational system 20 may be provided directly to the database 68 sothat when the location data indicates that the locomotive is at alocation corresponding to the location of a certain landmark, anappropriate landmark tag is provided by the database 68 to the system 10for incorporation into the integrated video data.

In yet another aspect of the invention depicted in FIG. 5, the on boardsystem 200 may include a landmark sensor 69 in communication with themanagement unit 10 for providing landmark tags. The landmark sensor 69may be configured to detect actual landmarks 76, such as mileposts 78 orcrossings 80, proximate the locomotive 22 as the locomotive 22approaches sufficiently close to the landmark 76 to allow the landmarksensor 69 to detect the actual landmark 76. Actual landmarks 76 detectedby the landmark sensor 69 may be incorporated into the integratedinformation to provide landmark correlated image data. In an embodiment,the landmark sensor 69 may include a transponder reader 82, such as anautomated equipment identifier (AEI) tag reader, detecting respectivetransponders 84, such as AEI tags, positioned proximate the actuallandmarks 76 to be detected by a passing locomotive 22.

To reduce the amount of integrated video data needed to be stored, thesystem 10 may also include a data resolution module 72 for determining aresolution of data to be stored depending on factors such as location,time of day, speed of the locomotive and RR landmarks. For example,higher resolution data than normally acquired, such as a higher videoframe rate and/or image quality, may be needed in certain situations,such as if the locomotive is traveling at higher speeds, approaching acrossing or traveling in an urban area. Consequently, lower resolutiondata than normally acquired, such as a lower video frame rate and/orimage quality, may be satisfactory for certain situations, such as whenthe locomotive is traveling at a slow speed in an undeveloped area alonga straight flat rail. Accordingly, data storage capacity may beconserved by reducing the data storage requirements depending onlocomotive operating conditions and the environment through which thelocomotive is traveling. Based on data received from the data sources,such as the locomotive system 30 and the environmental sensors 70, thedata resolution module 72 may dynamically control a resolution of datastored in memory 62. In another embodiment, the data module resolution72 may be configured to directly control a resolution of data providedby the respective data sources, for example, by changing a mode ofoperation of the data source, such as a mode of operation of theaudio/video system 14.

In another aspect of the invention, the off-board processing center 300in communication with the on board system 200 via the wireless system 50may include a system update module 74 for providing system updates tothe on board system 200. The system update module 74 may provide systemconfiguration updates controlling, for example, what data is stored andthe sample rate of collection of data. The module 74 may also beconfigured for updating the RR landmark database 68 with new or modifiedRR landmark tags. System updates may be performed on a periodic basis,and/or as required, such as when new RR landmarks are installed in therailway system. The wireless system 50 may be configured to becompatible with a radio-type communication system, a cellular-typecommunication system, or a satellite-type communication system. By beingconfigured for different types of communication systems, the mosteconomical communication system may be chosen to provide communicationsbetween the on-board system 200 and the off-board processing center 300.

A download device 64, such as laptop, may be connected to the on-boardsystem 200 for downloading information, for example, from memory 60. Inan aspect of the invention, the download device 64 may be configured fordownloading the entire contents of memory 60, or for downloading desiredportions of the information stored in memory 60. The portions desired tobe downloaded may be selected based on criteria such as time tags, GPSlocation, and/or RR landmark tags incorporated in the integratedinformation by the management unit 10. The download device 64 may beconnected to the download player 66 for playing back the informationsaved on the download device 64. The download player 66 may also be usedto play information stored in removable memory 62 when the removablememory 62 is installed in the download player 66, and to playinformation provided from the off-board processing center 300. Thedownload player 64 may be capable of displaying the integratedinformation, including data, video, and graphical information, and mayfurther be capable of synching to time tags, location information,and/or RR landmark tags encoded in the integrated information.

In another aspect of the invention, the landmark correlated image datamay be stored in a memory device, such as memory 60 onboard thelocomotive and/or memory 304 off board the locomotive, for laterretrieval and provision to a user desiring to review the landmarkcorrelated image data. The landmark correlated image data may becompressed to optimize storage capacity and transmission bandwidth oflandmark correlated image data being transmitted. In an aspect of theinvention, the landmark correlated image data may be formatted in astandard video format such as an MPEG or HDTV format.

In an embodiment, the off-board data and monitoring center 300 mayinclude processor 302, in communication with memory 304, configured forreceiving the landmark correlated image data from one or more locomotiveonboard systems 200, and/or other sources, such as stationary imagerecording systems, and providing the image data or certain requestedportions of the image data to users, for example, via the Internet 306.The off-board data and monitoring center 300 may receive a request overthe Internet 306 from a user desiring to view the stored data, forexample, corresponding to a certain landmark or geographic location ofinterest. The requesting user may select the desired portion of theimage data to be viewed by specifying a landmark location, such as oneor more mileposts. The processor 302 responds to the request byaccessing the image data, for example, stored in memory 304, to retrieveimage data associated with the specified milepost or mileposts.Accordingly, a user more familiar with landmark locations, for example,as opposed to geographic coordinates, may be able to more easily requestdesired landmark correlated image data to be viewed by selecting adesired landmark or landmarks. In addition, the user may be able toselect image data by time tags, for example, to bracket a desired timeperiod of image data to be viewed.

In another aspect, image data acquired by various different sources,such as locomotive mounted cameras, stationary cameras, or othersources, may be organized according to common imaging locations andstored, such as in memory 304. Accordingly, a user requesting image datacorresponding to a certain landmark, such as a vicinity of a certainmilepost, may be provided with image data recorded in the vicinity ofthe landmark recorded by different imaging systems.

As depicted in FIG. 6, a computer system 86 for accessing the landmarkcorrelated image data by landmark location may include an input device94, such as a keyboard, for selecting landmark correlated image data bylandmark location, provided, for example, via the internet 306. Thecomputer system may include a storage device 88, such as a memory,storing a computer code for accessing the landmark correlated image datato retrieve selected landmark correlated image data according tolandmark location. A central processing unit (CPU) 90 responsive to theinput device 94, operates with the computer code stored in the storagedevice 88 to retrieve selected landmark correlated image data, such asover the Internet 306, and an output device 92, such as a monitor,provides selected landmark correlated image data to a user.

Based on the foregoing specification, the methods described may beimplemented using computer programming or engineering techniquesincluding computer software, firmware, hardware or any combination orsubset thereof, wherein the technical effect is to provide an imagingsystem for generating landmark correlated images taken, for example,from a railroad locomotive. Any such resulting program, havingcomputer-readable code means, may be embodied or provided within one ormore computer-readable media, thereby making a computer program product,i.e., an article of manufacture, according to the invention. Forexample, computer readable media may contain program instructions for acomputer program code for processing received imaging data indicative ofimages acquired in a vicinity of a locomotive. The computer readablemedia may also include a computer program code for processing receivedlocation data indicative of a geographic location of the locomotive whenthe images are being acquired. In addition, the computer readable mediamay include a computer program code for accessing a railroad landmarkdatabase comprising a plurality of railroad landmarks associated withrespective geographic locations constituting landmark tags to correlatethe landmark tags with the imaging data and the location data togenerate landmark correlated image data.

The computer readable media may be, for example, a fixed (hard) drive,diskette, optical disk, magnetic tape, semiconductor memory such asread-only memory (ROM), etc., or any transmitting/receiving medium suchas the Internet or other communication network or link. The article ofmanufacture containing the computer code may be made and/or used byexecuting the code directly from one medium, by copying the code fromone medium to another medium, or by transmitting the code over anetwork.

One skilled in the art of computer science will be able to combine thesoftware created as described with appropriate general purpose orspecial purpose computer hardware, such as a microprocessor, to create acomputer system or computer sub-system embodying the method of theinvention. An apparatus for making, using or selling the invention maybe one or more processing systems including, but not limited to, acentral processing unit (CPU), memory, storage devices, communicationlinks and devices, servers, I/O devices, or any sub-components of one ormore processing systems, including software, firmware, hardware or anycombination or subset thereof, which embody the invention.

It will be understood that a person skilled in the art may makemodifications to the preferred embodiment shown herein within the scopeand intent of the claims. While the present invention has been describedas carried out in a specific embodiment thereof, it is not intended tobe limited thereby but is intended to cover the invention broadly withinthe scope and spirit of the claims.

1. An imaging system for generating landmark correlated images takenfrom a railroad locomotive comprising: a camera mounted on a locomotivefor imaging an environment in a vicinity of the locomotive, the cameratransmitting imaging data indicative of images acquired; a locationsensor on-board the locomotive generating signals indicative of ageographic location of the locomotive constituting location data; arailroad landmark database comprising a plurality of railroad landmarksassociated with respective geographic locations constituting landmarktags; and a processor receiving the imaging data and the location dataand communicating with the railroad landmark database to correlate thelandmark tags with the imaging data and the location data for generatinglandmark correlated image data.
 2. The imaging system of claim 1,wherein the location sensor comprises a GPS receiver.
 3. The imagingsystem of claim 1, further comprising a first data storage deviceon-board the locomotive in communication with the camera for storing thelandmark correlated image data.
 4. The imaging system of claim 3,further comprising a second data storage device storing the landmarkcorrelated image data and being configured to be selectively removablefrom on-board the locomotive for installation in a data reader off-boardthe locomotive.
 5. The imaging system of claim 1, further comprising adownload player accessing the landmark correlated image data.
 6. Theimaging system of claim 1, further comprising an actual time sourceproviding signals indicative of chronological date and time constitutingtime tag data for the imaging data.
 7. The imaging system of claim 6,wherein the location sensor and the actual time source both comprise aGPS receiver.
 8. The imaging system of claim 1, further comprising aplurality of locomotive operating parameter sensors disposed on-boardthe locomotive for monitoring a plurality of operating parametersrelative to the locomotive, generating data indicative of the operatingparameters, and transmitting the operating parameter data, the processorfurther receiving time tag data to correlate the time tag data and theoperating parameter data with the imaging data.
 9. The imaging system ofclaim 1, further comprising a landmark sensor on board the locomotivefor detecting actual landmarks proximate the locomotive and generatinglandmark detection data, the processor receiving the landmark detectiondata to correlate the actual landmarks with the imaging data.
 10. Theimaging system of claim 9, wherein the landmark sensor comprises atransponder reader detecting respective transponders positionedproximate the actual landmarks.
 11. The imaging system of claim 9,wherein the transponder reader comprises an AEI tag reader and thetransponders comprise AEI tags.
 12. The imaging system of claim 9,wherein the landmarks comprise mile posts alongside a track on which thelocomotive travels.
 13. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein theprocessor is located on-board the locomotive.
 14. The imaging system ofclaim 1, wherein the processor is located off board the locomotive. 15.The imaging system of claim 1, further comprising a computer system foraccessing the landmark correlated image data by landmark location, thecomputer system comprising: an input device for selecting landmarkcorrelated image data by landmark location; a storage device storing acomputer code for accessing the landmark correlated image data toretrieve selected landmark correlated image data according to landmarklocation; a central processing unit responsive to the input device andoperative with the computer code stored in the storage device toretrieve selected landmark correlated image data; and an output devicefor providing selected landmark correlated image data.
 16. The imagingsystem of claim 15, wherein the landmark correlated image data comprisestime tags, the storage device further comprising a computer program codefor accessing the landmark correlated image data by the time tags. 17.The imaging system of claim 15, wherein the landmark correlated imagedata comprises geographic coordinates, the storage device furthercomprising a computer program code for accessing the landmark correlatedimage data by the geographic coordinates.
 18. The imaging system ofclaim 15, wherein the landmarks comprise mile posts alongside a track onwhich the locomotive travels, the storage device further comprising acomputer program code for accessing the landmark correlated image databy the mile posts.
 19. Computer readable media containing programinstructions for generating landmark correlated images taken from arailroad locomotive, the locomotive having a camera imaging anenvironment in a vicinity of the locomotive, a location sensorgenerating signals indicative of a geographic location of thelocomotive, and a railroad landmark database comprising a plurality ofrailroad landmarks associated with respective geographic locations, thecomputer readable media comprising: a computer program code forprocessing received imaging data indicative of images acquired in avicinity of a locomotive; a computer program code for processingreceived location data indicative of a geographic location of thelocomotive when the images are being acquired; and a computer programcode for accessing a railroad landmark database comprising a pluralityof railroad landmarks associated with respective geographic locationsconstituting landmark tags to correlate the landmark tags with theimaging data and the location data to generate landmark correlated imagedata.
 20. The computer readable media of claim 19, further comprising acomputer program code for storing the landmark correlated image data ina memory device.
 21. The computer readable media of claim 19, furthercomprising a computer program code for accessing the landmark correlatedimage data stored in the memory device by landmark location.
 22. Thecomputer readable media of claim 19, wherein the landmark correlatedimage data comprises time tags, the media further comprising a computerprogram code for accessing the landmark correlated image data in thememory device by the time tags.
 23. The computer readable media of claim19, wherein the landmark correlated image data comprises geographiccoordinates, the media further comprising a computer program code foraccessing the landmark correlated image data in the memory device by thegeographic coordinates.
 24. The computer readable media of claim 19,wherein the landmarks comprise mile posts alongside a track on which thelocomotive travels, the media further comprising a computer program codefor accessing the landmark correlated image data in the memory device bythe mile posts.
 25. A computer system for accessing landmark correlatedimage data by landmark location comprising: an input device forselecting landmark correlated image data by landmark location; a storagedevice storing a computer code for accessing the landmark correlatedimage data to retrieve selected landmark correlated image data accordingto landmark location; a central processing unit responsive to the inputdevice and operative with the computer code stored in the storage deviceto retrieve selected landmark correlated image data; and an outputdevice for providing selected landmark correlated image data.
 26. Asystem of claim 25, wherein the landmark correlated image data comprisestime tags, the storage device further comprising a computer program codefor accessing the landmark correlated image data by the time tags. 27.The system of claim 25, wherein the landmark correlated image datacomprises geographic coordinates, the storage device further comprisinga computer program code for accessing the landmark correlated image databy the geographic coordinates.
 28. The system of claim 25, wherein thelandmarks comprise mile posts alongside a track on which a locomotivetravels, the storage device further comprising a computer program codefor accessing the landmark correlated image data by the mile posts.